CLIMATE CHANGE: PERCEPTIONS, HUMAN BEING AND TIME

WRITTEN IN AUGUST 2009 FOR THE SYRIAN ENGLISH NEWSPAPER "BALADNA"

Since global warming reached general public interest, different opinions and positions, for and against, had been expressed among scientist, politicians and population itself. However, and thanks mainly to the different reports and conclusions of the IPCC, it exists clear consensus about the seriousness of the issue.

Most of the world governments have assumed these warnings and are ready, in theory, to work with the aim to avoid a climatic debacle, as some of the climate model data confirms.

However, this so-called strong political action it looks more a way to escape of the growing pressure for solutions by public opinion, than a sincere and fully aware commitment. Political time periods are too short in order to face successfully earth system problems and human time perceptions are also too limited to understand these changes… so we prefer to exhaust earth system resources and continue and enjoy with our limited existence on earth.

Arrived at this point, we suggest reflection about this human time perception. We, human beings, do not share the same vital times as the terrestrial system could have. Thus, what we could consider a slight increase of the temperature, for the earth system it means a radical and dramatic change. In particular, if we consider that temperatures have been maintained stabilized for thousands, if not millions of years.

To make understandable this perception to politicians and population it’s quite complicated.  Governments are working to solve the problems and needs of their populations under a temporary and limited range of time, prevailing, in most cases, immediate needs over other future and long expected problems. For populations, and especially during this era of globalization and consumerism, the dream is “bigger is better”.

Under these basic considerations it’s almost unrealistic to think that human beings will stop doing all of those things that are ruining the environment, as they are so needed to have a pleasant stay in earth. Drastic carbon emission reductions will suppose in most cases sacrifices on part of the population, but we are now conditioned to this way of life and we don’t want to lose these privileges even for a week. A solution does not look easy to find.

In these pages we do not have the key to achieve a sustainable development and a society more aware about the global warming issue. However, we will try to inform about environment and climate change, from a perspective that will combine information, advises and perspective in order to collaborate in the development of a society more willing to leave to the next generations a better place to live.